Marcus Durran Osbey, center, is accused of assaulting a Spartanburg County Sheriff's deputy who attempted to arrest him for shoplifting from the Boiling Springs Walmart on Friday. Investigators Tom Clark, left, and Lorin Williams, escorted Osbey out of the Sheriff's Office after Osbey was apprehended.

Last Modified: Friday, February 8, 2013 at 1:03 p.m.

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Authorities say Marcus Durran Osbey, 32, of 91 Marcus Drive in Inman, tried to steal bleach and dishwashing detergent Friday morning at the Walmart in Boiling Springs. Loss prevention officers at the store stopped him, and a deputy responded to the store a little before noon to arrest Osbey, Lt. Tony Ivey said.

Osbey fought the deputy, who fell during the struggle, struck his head and temporarily lost consciousness, Ivey said.

Loss prevention officers called 911 dispatchers to report an officer down and described the vehicle that Osbey had fled in.

Ivey said about 25 officers from various agencies converged on the area and spotted Osbey, who bailed out of the car and ran about a block before he was apprehended.

Osbey has been charged with strong-arm robbery, resisting arrest with injury, third-degree assault and battery.

Osbey said little to the media as he was led to a police car at the Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office.

Osbey had outstanding bench warrants from the city of Inman for possession of drug paraphernalia and driving under suspension.

Ivey said Osbey told investigators he fought the deputy because he was aware of the bench warrants and did not want to be charged with shoplifting.

During a bond hearing, Osbey told Judge Dwight Smith that he did not want a preliminary hearing and planned to get an attorney.

Seventh Circuit Solicitor Barry Barnette told Smith that Osbey hit a female loss prevention officer before he rammed his fist or forearm into the deputy, which caused the deputy to hit a wall or floor.

Barnette said the deputy suffered a head injury and was in intensive care with bleeding on the brain. It's possible the charge against Osbey could be upgraded to assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature.

Barnette said the deputy's knee also was injured, and he was scheduled to have surgery performed on it this morning.

Barnette said Osbey's criminal record dates back to 2000, and it includes drug and traffic offenses.

He said Osbey was a danger to the community and a possible flight risk. He requested substantial bond because of Osbey's current charges and the possibility he could face a greater charge.

Smith granted Osbey a $32,000 cash or surety bond and ordered that he have GPS monitoring upon release.

Shoppers were turned away from the store's market entrance as a news helicopter circled overhead about 1:10 p.m.

It was business as usual inside. Shoppers pushed buggies and registers beeped with purchases while investigators processed the area near a store entrance.

By 1:20 p.m., the entrance was secured with crime tape as investigators processed the scene.

Ivey said the S.C. Highway Patrol and Spartanburg Public Safety assisted the sheriff's office in the search.

Osbey, Ivey said, "had no hope of ever escaping" the Valley Falls area with all the response from law enforcement.

Earlier this week, the Herald-Journal reported that the number of shoplifting cases in the city of Spartanburg rose 40 percent from 2011 to 2012.

Ivey said shoplifting is a countywide problem.

There have been reported incidents of aggressive and seemingly more desperate shoplifters in recent months. Last December, a shoplifter reportedly bit a loss prevention officer at the Dorman Center Walmart and got away. Later that same month at the same store, a Spartanburg woman was arrested after police say she stole merchandise and ran into traffic with her child in an effort to get away from loss prevention officers.

Last month, a man trying to steal beer assaulted employees at the Walmart on East Main Street with a shopping cart before he got away.

Two people were arrested last Saturday after a grocery store manager was dragged by a truck as the suspects tried to make their getaway following a suspected shoplifting.

"You never know what suspects are going to do," Ivey said.

He said shoppers should alert store employees or authorities if they witness a shoplifting rather than confront the shoplifter. He said there have been instances when shoplifters pulled weapons when confronted.

Osbey was not armed and did not struggle with officers after he was taken into custody, Ivey said.

The assaulted deputy is a supervisor — a sergeant assigned to uniform patrol — who's been with the Sheriff's Office more than 20 years.

"He is a veteran officer, and it just goes to show you that it can happen to a veteran officer as easily as it could happen to a rookie officer. It just reminds us in law enforcement how dangerous our job is," Ivey said. "Every day when we go out there, we want to go home safely at the end of the day, and we just have to be on guard. We're thankful that the deputy is going to be fine, and we just hope for a speedy recovery and appreciate everyone's prayers and well wishes for him and his family."

<p>A Spartanburg County Sheriff's deputy is in the hospital after he was knocked unconscious in a struggle to arrest a suspected shoplifter.</p><p>Authorities say Marcus Durran Osbey, 32, of 91 Marcus Drive in Inman, tried to steal bleach and dishwashing detergent Friday morning at the Walmart in Boiling Springs. Loss prevention officers at the store stopped him, and a deputy responded to the store a little before noon to arrest Osbey, Lt. Tony Ivey said.</p><p>Osbey fought the deputy, who fell during the struggle, struck his head and temporarily lost consciousness, Ivey said.</p><p>Loss prevention officers called 911 dispatchers to report an officer down and described the vehicle that Osbey had fled in.</p><p>Ivey said about 25 officers from various agencies converged on the area and spotted Osbey, who bailed out of the car and ran about a block before he was apprehended.</p><p>Osbey has been charged with strong-arm robbery, resisting arrest with injury, third-degree assault and battery.</p><p>Osbey said little to the media as he was led to a police car at the Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office.</p><p>Osbey had outstanding bench warrants from the city of Inman for possession of drug paraphernalia and driving under suspension.</p><p>Ivey said Osbey told investigators he fought the deputy because he was aware of the bench warrants and did not want to be charged with shoplifting.</p><p>During a bond hearing, Osbey told Judge Dwight Smith that he did not want a preliminary hearing and planned to get an attorney. </p><p>Seventh Circuit Solicitor Barry Barnette told Smith that Osbey hit a female loss prevention officer before he rammed his fist or forearm into the deputy, which caused the deputy to hit a wall or floor. </p><p>Barnette said the deputy suffered a head injury and was in intensive care with bleeding on the brain. It's possible the charge against Osbey could be upgraded to assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature. </p><p>Barnette said the deputy's knee also was injured, and he was scheduled to have surgery performed on it this morning. </p><p>Barnette said Osbey's criminal record dates back to 2000, and it includes drug and traffic offenses.</p><p>He said Osbey was a danger to the community and a possible flight risk. He requested substantial bond because of Osbey's current charges and the possibility he could face a greater charge. </p><p>Smith granted Osbey a $32,000 cash or surety bond and ordered that he have GPS monitoring upon release. </p><p>Shoppers were turned away from the store's market entrance as a news helicopter circled overhead about 1:10 p.m.</p><p>It was business as usual inside. Shoppers pushed buggies and registers beeped with purchases while investigators processed the area near a store entrance.</p><p>By 1:20 p.m., the entrance was secured with crime tape as investigators processed the scene.</p><p>Ivey said the S.C. Highway Patrol and Spartanburg Public Safety assisted the sheriff's office in the search.</p><p>Osbey, Ivey said, "had no hope of ever escaping" the Valley Falls area with all the response from law enforcement.</p><p>Earlier this week, the Herald-Journal reported that the number of shoplifting cases in the city of Spartanburg rose 40 percent from 2011 to 2012.</p><p>Ivey said shoplifting is a countywide problem.</p><p>There have been reported incidents of aggressive and seemingly more desperate shoplifters in recent months. Last December, a shoplifter reportedly bit a loss prevention officer at the Dorman Center Walmart and got away. Later that same month at the same store, a Spartanburg woman was arrested after police say she stole merchandise and ran into traffic with her child in an effort to get away from loss prevention officers.</p><p>Last month, a man trying to steal beer assaulted employees at the Walmart on East Main Street with a shopping cart before he got away.</p><p>Two people were arrested last Saturday after a grocery store manager was dragged by a truck as the suspects tried to make their getaway following a suspected shoplifting.</p><p>"You never know what suspects are going to do," Ivey said.</p><p>He said shoppers should alert store employees or authorities if they witness a shoplifting rather than confront the shoplifter. He said there have been instances when shoplifters pulled weapons when confronted.</p><p>Osbey was not armed and did not struggle with officers after he was taken into custody, Ivey said.</p><p>The assaulted deputy is a supervisor — a sergeant assigned to uniform patrol — who's been with the Sheriff's Office more than 20 years.</p><p>"He is a veteran officer, and it just goes to show you that it can happen to a veteran officer as easily as it could happen to a rookie officer. It just reminds us in law enforcement how dangerous our job is," Ivey said. "Every day when we go out there, we want to go home safely at the end of the day, and we just have to be on guard. We're thankful that the deputy is going to be fine, and we just hope for a speedy recovery and appreciate everyone's prayers and well wishes for him and his family."</p>